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Director of Strategic Gifts

Employer
Sojourners
Location
District of Columbia, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Closing date
Aug 18, 2021
Department:  Advancement Supervisor:  Chief Advancement Officer

Do you have a passion for social justice? Sojourners has an immediate opening for a full-time Director of Strategic Gifts. The purpose of this role is to secure funds for the organization by managing a group (caseload) of assigned and qualified major donors, ensuring that as many as possible are retained as continuing donors to the organization and are upgraded in their giving and involvement, and identifying and cultivating new donors.

About Sojourners

For 50 years, Sojourners (sojo.net) has resourced, equipped, and mobilized millions of people from around the world to put their faith into action for social justice. We draw on a long and diverse tradition of Christians following Jesus and seeking justice, across different traditions and cultures. We reach more than 6 million readers annually through our award-winning monthly magazine, our online publication, and social media. The organization has embraced a commitment to applying a racial equity and inclusion lens to all its work, and strives to embody this commitment in its advocacy, publications, communications, organizing, and operations. We invite you to join us as we grow a movement focused on justice and peace.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Manage a portfolio of 75-100 qualified donors and identify, prioritize, cultivate, and solicit gifts of $5,000 and above, with priority for identifying individuals capable of making transformational gifts.
  • Collaborate with colleagues on the Major Gifts team (including the Chief Advancement Officer, Senior Director of Foundation Relations, and Associate Director of Strategic Gifts) in developing overall team strategy and goals, and track progress toward implementing them.
  • In collaboration with the Major Gifts team, oversee the President’s portfolio of donors providing strategic guidance and logistical support.
  • Work with the President and key staff to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors from your own portfolio where needed for the individual donor plan.
  • With the Director of Individual Giving, the Associate Director of Strategic Gifts, and Senior Director of Foundation Relations, build and maintain a donor pipeline from individual giving to mid-level gifts to strategic gifts.
  • Produce fundraising materials including, but not limited to, letters, emails, proposals, PowerPoint presentations, and reports. This includes drafting original copy and editing documents.
  • Conduct 20 meaningful points of contact (in-person meeting, phone call, e-communication, etc.) with donors per month.
  • Assess the potential and capacity of existing and prospective donors.
  • Create a foundational communication and marketing plan for each person on the caseload, involving the CAO and/or President when appropriate. Execute the plan faithfully, and on a timely basis, so that individuals on the caseload are retained and upgraded.
  • Work with program and the Senior Director of Foundation Relations to secure appropriate project information and to create asks, proposals, budgets, and reports that will be used with persons on the caseload to secure gifts.
  • Organize small- and medium-scale events to deepen relationships with existing donors and/or to introduce Sojourners to new audiences and raise funds.
  • Work with the Associate Director of Strategic Gifts to manage research on new prospective individual donor and family foundations, analyze their giving history and potential, and write donor briefings.
  • Work with Chief Advancement Officer and other staff in the roll-out of the public phase of the capital campaign and 50th anniversary celebration.
  • Coordinate, organize, and facilitate monthly prospect meetings with CAO, Senior Director of Foundation Relations, and Associate Director of Strategic Gifts to review shared donors and next steps.
  • Record summaries of donor and prospect meetings and post-meeting follow-up activities in Raiser’s Edge; conduct post-meeting follow-up.
  • Track solicitation amounts, anticipated gifts, pledges, and income, and provide regular revenue and cash flow updates on projections vs. actuals.
  • Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

  • Knowledge of social and economic justice issues.
  • Understanding of and commitment to Sojourners’ faith-based mission.
  • Experience building successful relationships with high-net-worth individuals and their representatives; track record of soliciting and securing major gifts from individual donors, or comparable experience.
  • Demonstrated success in building strategic relationships that benefit the organization, the philanthropic partner, and ultimately lead to increased support in the future.
  • Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 5 years of successful fundraising experience, ideally in a faith-based and/or progressive nonprofit organization or higher education.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills are critical.
  • Expert interpersonal skills: energetic, high emotional intelligence, and excellent management and coaching skills.
  • Interest in and experience in developing and implementing fundraising strategies for people of all ethnic and racial backgrounds.
  • Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
  • Ability to prioritize, multitask, meet deadlines, and work collaboratively in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment.
  • Ability to work independently and as a member of a team.
  • Ability to travel frequently, as dictated by individual donor strategies.
  • Familiarity with fundraising best practices, standards, and ethics.
  • Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge is a plus.

This full-time position involves occasional weekend and evening work and requires frequent travel when safe to return to travel.

Benefits of this position: Excellent benefits package includes fully paid health insurance, 20 days’ paid vacation, 401(k) plan, and a positive, faith-based work environment. The Director of Strategic Gifts position offers the satisfaction of helping donors fulfill their passions and interests through their giving to Sojourners.

TO APPLY:

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional reference contacts to jobs@sojo.net with Director of Strategic Gifts in the subject line. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Sojourners is an equal opportunity employer that continually seeks to diversify its staff and create an inclusive and equitable culture. People of color are highly encouraged to apply.

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